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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Signals Openness to Fresh Trade Talks With the US: China has indicated it is open to further trade engagement with the United States, urging both sides to make effective use of the China–US economic and trade consultation mechanism after the US Trade Representative floated the possibility of a new round of negotiations. Speaking on Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry said Beijing is willing to work with Washington to uphold the consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders, manage differences through dialogue, and deepen cooperation to ensure stable and sustainable bilateral economic ties. The ministry highlighted that five rounds of consultations held in 2025, conducted on the basis of equality, respect, and reciprocity, delivered positive outcomes and showed that trade frictions can be addressed through dialogue. Since the leaders’ meeting in Busan, the two sides have continued close communication at multiple levels, pushing forward the implementation of agreed outcomes from consultations in Kuala Lumpur and reinforcing momentum for improved economic relations.
  
  

• China Confirms Aircraft Carrier Fujian’s Sea Trials Advancing Smoothly: China’s Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that the PLA Navy’s aircraft carrier Fujian has been carrying out test and training missions as planned since its commissioning, including a northward transit through the Taiwan Straits, with overall progress described as steady. Responding to questions at a press briefing, spokesperson Jiang Bin said the carrier is advancing toward developing systematic, formation-based combat capabilities. Commissioned on November 5, 2025, Fujian-China’s first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults conducted its first live-fire maritime training less than two weeks later, operating in formation with other vessels and carrying out tasks such as formation navigation, joint search and rescue, and carrier-based aircraft takeoffs and landings. Multiple aircraft types, including the J-35, J-15T, J-15DT and KJ-600, completed catapult launches and deck landings, validating the ship’s electromagnetic catapult and flight deck operations. The defense ministry also acknowledged reports that the carrier sailed through the Taiwan Straits in mid-December, noting that such cross-sea training helps the vessel adapt to different maritime and meteorological conditions while testing onboard systems and coordination within the carrier formation.
  
  

• China Rolls Out Plan to Boost Service Consumption as New Growth Engine: China has unveiled a new work plan aimed at cultivating fresh growth drivers in service consumption, signaling a push to support high-quality economic development by expanding and upgrading the services sector. Released by the State Council, the plan focuses on improving service supply and quality across key areas such as transportation, domestic services, online audiovisual content, sojourn tourism, the automotive aftermarket, and inbound consumption, while also encouraging pilot programs, innovative consumption scenarios, and talent development. It identifies emerging sectors like performance services, sports events, and emotion and experience-oriented services as future growth points, calling for better incentive mechanisms, stronger safety oversight, brand building, and improved platforms. The plan also stresses the need for stronger policy backing through better standards, enhanced credit systems, and greater fiscal and financial support, while urging local governments to tailor measures to local conditions and create a more supportive environment for service consumption.
  
  

• China Executes 11 Members of Myanmar-Based Criminal Syndicate: Eleven members of a family-run criminal syndicate operating in northern Myanmar have been executed after China’s Supreme People’s Court approved their death sentences, according to an announcement released on Thursday. The executions were carried out by the Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Zhejiang province, which had sentenced the group for a series of serious crimes including intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, telecom fraud and running illegal casinos. The syndicate, led by Mg Myin Shaunt Phyin and Ma Thiri Maung, had operated multiple scam compounds in Myanmar’s Kokang region since 2015 and worked with other gangs that provided funding and armed protection. Their criminal activities resulted in the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals, injuries to several others, and illicit proceeds exceeding 10 billion yuan. After the initial death sentences were handed down on September 29, 2025, the defendants appealed, but the Zhejiang High People’s Court rejected the appeals and upheld the rulings, which were later reviewed and approved by the Supreme People’s Court. The SPC said the crimes were extremely serious, with particularly grave circumstances and consequences, and confirmed that legal procedures were properly followed, including allowing the criminals to meet their families before execution.
  
  

• China Steps Up Nipah Virus Surveillance After India Outbreak: China has intensified monitoring and preparedness measures for the Nipah virus following a recent outbreak in India, although no cases have been detected domestically and the risk of infection remains low, according to the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration. Chinese health authorities have launched risk assessments, strengthened surveillance systems, enhanced testing capacity and improved personnel training, while noting that Nipah is a zoonotic virus mainly carried by fruit bats and transmitted through contact with infected animals, contaminated food, pigs or human-to-human spread. The virus, first identified in Malaysia in the 1990s, has a fatality rate of 40 to 75 percent but limited environmental survivability, making rapid spread less likely. Indian authorities confirmed two cases in West Bengal, said the outbreak has been contained, and reported that all 196 close contacts tested negative. China said the risk remains low as it does not share a border with the affected area, but warned that imported cases are still possible.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Hit-and-Run Debate Ignites Online After Traffic Incident Report: A hit-and-run incident sparked heated discussion on Weibo after reports indicated that actor Jin Chen was suspected of leaving the scene following the traffic accident in Keqiao district, Shaoxing. As per the post, fleeing the scene without constituting a crime can result in fines and up to 15 days’ detention, while hit-and-run involving serious accidents can lead to prison sentences ranging from three years up to life imprisonment. Netizens reacted sharply, with comments such as “If it’s not true, why hasn’t there been a response yet?”, “Didn’t they say it was just hitting a wall-how is that escape?”, and “People with common sense wouldn’t choose to flee.” Others questioned responsibility and insurance issues, saying “Can’t the car owner still claim insurance if someone else was driving?” and speculating, “This happened last year and only came out now-clearly someone got offended.” Some also compared it to other celebrity cases, asking “What about Zhang Yuqi?”

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media reports on EU–India Trade Deal Seen as Reshaping Mid-to-High-End Auto Market: A Guancha article reported that while foreign automakers such as Volkswagen have already pursued deep localization under their “India 2.0” strategies, several international media outlets say the EU-India free trade agreement is expected to mainly affect India’s mid-to-high-end automobile segment. The piece also quoted Indian automotive industry expert Avik Chattopadhyay stating that India has long faced a product gap in the 2 million to 6 million rupee price range, and that gradual tariff reductions could allow European brands to enter this segment through imports or partial localization, bringing more direct competition to models such as the Mahindra XUV7X0, Tata Harrier and Safari, and Toyota Fortuner. At the same time, analysts said Indian automakers remain relatively calm, as even after full implementation, low-tariff EU car imports will still face quota limits and most models will continue to bear a total tax burden of 30 to 40 percent. The piece also noted that tariff cuts alone do not guarantee success, as European brands will still need to compete with Indian manufacturers on pricing, localization and after-sales networks, meaning the agreement does not eliminate underlying differences between the two sides in the Indian market and is unlikely to trigger a sudden surge of European car imports.

Prepared By

Mohit Singh Mehra

Mohit Singh Mehra is a Master’s student of International Relations at South Asian University, New Delhi. His academic and research interests focus on China, Himalayan geopolitics, and border dynamics, with a particular emphasis on strategic, security, and political developments in the region. He is interested in understanding how geography, power, and policy interact in shaping regional order in Asia.